Allahabad High Court rejects student's plea to wear hijab with school uniform

Allahabad High Court hijab ruling school uniform Asaduddin Owaisi religious freedom

The Allahabad High Court has dismissed a petition filed by a minor student, Sukaina Rizvi, seeking permission to wear a hijab or headscarf with her school uniform at Tagore Public School in Prayagraj. A division bench comprising Justices JJ Munir and Indrajit Shukla ruled that the student failed to provide sufficient religious evidence or scripture to prove that wearing a headscarf is an essential religious practice in Islam.

The court emphasized that educational institutions have the jurisdiction to prescribe dress codes, provided they are uniform, non-discriminatory, and aimed at maintaining discipline and institutional identity. The bench noted that photographs showed other students from the same religious community attending the school without headscarves, suggesting the practice was not mandatory.

The ruling has sparked significant political and religious debate. AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi criticized the verdict, calling it an ‘attack on Islam’ and a violation of constitutional rights under Articles 19 and 25. Conversely, Union Minister Ramdas Athawale supported the decision, stating that the country must follow the law and the constitution. Additionally, several Muslim clerics have called for a review of the judgment, maintaining that the hijab is a compulsory religious requirement.

Entities

AIMIM · Allahabad High Court · Asaduddin Owaisi · Indrajit Shukla · JJ Munir · Justice Indrajeet Shukla · Justice JJ Munir · Maulana Khalid Rasheed · Ramdas Athawale · Sukaina Rizvi · Tagore Public School

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 5 SOURCES] The court emphasized that school uniforms promote discipline, equality among students, and institutional identity. hindi.newsbytesapp.com · navbharatlive.com · www.indiatv.in · vishwavani.news · www.news18.com
[● 7 SOURCES] The court ruled that wearing a headscarf is not an essential religious practice of Islam. www.indiatv.in · hindi.newsbytesapp.com · navbharatlive.com · avnews.in · vishwavani.news · +1 more
[● 6 SOURCES] The court noted that the lack of hijab use among other students from the same religious community suggests it is not a mandatory practice. www.indiatv.in · navbharatlive.com · vishwavani.news · hindi.newsbytesapp.com · www.news18.com
[● 7 SOURCES] The Allahabad High Court dismissed a petition seeking permission for a student to wear a hijab or scarf with the school uniform. www.indiatv.in · hindi.newsbytesapp.com · navbharatlive.com · avnews.in · vishwavani.news · +1 more
[● 6 SOURCES] The court held that the selection of a prescribed school uniform falls under the jurisdiction of the educational institution. hindi.newsbytesapp.com · navbharatlive.com · avnews.in · www.indiatv.in · vishwavani.news · +1 more
[● 2 SOURCES] The petitioner failed to provide religious texts or evidence to prove that wearing a scarf in class is a mandatory religious practice. www.indiatv.in · hindi.newsbytesapp.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] Union Minister Ramdas Athawale supported the court's decision, stating that the country operates according to the constitution and law. hindi.news18.com
[● 5 SOURCES] AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi called the court ruling an attack on Islam and a violation of constitutional rights. madhyamamonline.com · www.varthabharati.in · www.nationalheraldindia.com · newsable.asianetnews.com · www.news18.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] Muslim clerics have called for a review of the verdict, asserting that the hijab is compulsory in Islam. www.orissapost.com